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Accelerating Lake Washington School District’s Transition to Electric Buses

Accelerating Lake Washington School District’s Transition to Electric Buses

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) is moving toward a cleaner and more sustainable future by electrifying its school bus fleet. The district secured federal and state funding to purchase four electric buses. These buses began operating in the 2026 school year with routes prioritized for equity. This effort builds on LWSD’s long-term strategy to reduce fleet emissions by replacing older vehicles, retrofitting remaining buses and improving route efficiency.

In close partnership with McKinstry, the district designed, installed and commissioned the charging infrastructure needed to power the fleet. Already engaged through a performance-based contract, McKinstry expanded beyond traditional infrastructure work to include strategic planning and operational coordination, ensuring every decision aligned with district priorities.

The installation required careful coordination across multiple stakeholders. By collaborating with InCharge Energy, the district’s equipment provider, the team commissioned the chargers before the first buses arrived, meeting tight timelines without disrupting daily operations at a bus yard serving more than 100 buses across multiple parcels.

Reliability of site operations was critical, as buses needed to continue moving through the work area for parking or dispatch. McKinstry got creative during design. The team found conduits beneath active drive lanes and reused them. This eliminated excavation and kept the yard fully operational.

Brendan O’Donnell, McKinstry’s regional director for EV charging infrastructure projects, noted the strength of the partnership and the district’s readiness to move quickly and thoughtfully. “LWSD had an impressive vision to put these buses right in the middle of their site and challenged our engineering and development team to make it happen. We created several design options and worked collaboratively with LWSD facilities leadership to repurpose existing infrastructure on the site.”

As the buses entered service and charging infrastructure became fully operational, district leadership reflected on the broader significance of the transition. Brian Buck, Executive Director of Support Services at LWSD, emphasized the district’s commitment to sustainability, stating that “Lake Washington School District is committed to providing a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for our students, staff and community. The transition to electric buses marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to reduce emissions. We are grateful for the partnerships and grant funding that made this possible, and we are proud of our team’s dedication to innovation and operational excellence.”

The result is a model for how thoughtful collaboration can accelerate electrification while maintaining seamless daily operations. Students, staff and the community benefit from quieter and healthier environments, and the district now has a tested framework for future expansion. LWSD continues to pursue additional funding opportunities as they become available, supporting a steady and scalable transition toward a fully electrified fleet.